NGA-GANA combination finalized

2018-02-05Representative organizations

Both memberships voted overwhelmingly to approve the combination of NGA and GANA to represent flat glass and glazing industry.

NGA and GANA are now one, united voice representing the flat glass and glazing industry

The National Glass Association (NGA), Vienna, VA, and the Glass Association of North America (GANA) are now one, united voice representing the flat glass and glazing industry. The associations embarked on the combination quest in Spring 2017 with the NGA and GANA memberships voting to approve the deal in less than a year. The newly combined association will be known as the National Glass Association; a name change will be considered within two years of the Closing Date. The GANA name will remain on technical documents and related materials during this period.

A Joint Task Force worked for several months leading up to the vote on an Agreement which preserves the important work and contributions by both organizations, their memberships and volunteers. More recently, a separate Integration Task Force (ITF) was formed to outline the new association's technical document development plan, refine the voting and approval process, and determine the advocacy process, among other tasks integral to the success of the combined association.

The ITF met for the first time on 24 January and recommended that the legacy GANA Division committees continue to operate as they have up through the Annual Conference, 23-26 April, Napa, focusing on activities, deliverables, and documents in process. Previously generated GANA documents will be maintained and offered. The ITF meets again in February and at the BEC Conference, 4-6 March, Las Vegas, to continue its review of the technical process and...

The National Glass Association (NGA), Vienna, VA, and the Glass Association of North America (GANA) are now one, united voice representing the flat glass and glazing industry. The associations embarked on the combination quest in Spring 2017 with the NGA and GANA memberships voting to approve the deal in less than a year. The newly combined association will be known as the National Glass Association; a name change will be considered within two years of the Closing Date. The GANA name will remain on technical documents and related materials during this period.

A Joint Task Force worked for several months leading up to the vote on an Agreement which preserves the important work and contributions by both organizations, their memberships and volunteers. More recently, a separate Integration Task Force (ITF) was formed to outline the new association's technical document development plan, refine the voting and approval process, and determine the advocacy process, among other tasks integral to the success of the combined association.

The ITF met for the first time on 24 January and recommended that the legacy GANA Division committees continue to operate as they have up through the Annual Conference, 23-26 April, Napa, focusing on activities, deliverables, and documents in process. Previously generated GANA documents will be maintained and offered. The ITF meets again in February and at the BEC Conference, 4-6 March, Las Vegas, to continue its review of the technical process and structure. The end product of its work will come before the newly composed 13-member NGA Board of Directors as recommendations.

The NGA has formed a new Technical Services & Advocacy Department. Urmilla Jokhu-Sowell joins the NGA staff as Advocacy & Technical Director, reporting to NGA President & CEO, Nicole Harris. Code consultants, Tom Culp, Birch Point Consulting, and Thom Zaremba, Roetzel & Andress, will continue their work monitoring and representing the association and the industry's interests at building code hearings. Other consultants will be retained as needed.

Sara Neiswanger also joins the NGA as Senior Manager, GANA Member Services and will report to NGA Membership & Marketing Director, Michele Nosko.

The NGA leadership will continue to update members and the industry as the integration evolves.

Founded in 1948, the National Glass Association (NGA), www.glass.org, combined with the Glass Association of North America (GANA), www.glasswebsite.com on 1 February 2018 to form the largest trade association serving the architectural glass and metals industry supply chain, including glazing contractors, full-service glass companies, glass fabricators, primary glass manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. It is a technical powerhouse that brings some of the best minds to the table to create technical resources and promote and advocate for glass in buildings. NGA's education and training programmes – both online at MyGlassClass.com and in-person at association-sponsored events – and its official publication Glass Magazine, www.glassmagazine.com, keep the industry knowledgeable and well-informed. NGA also produces the industry's largest annual trade show in the Americas, GlassBuild America, www.glassbuildamerica.com, and hosts the Building Envelope Contractors Conference, the Glazing Executives Forum and other educational and networking events, bringing together thousands of industry professionals to help them build more profitable businesses.